Former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, has called on Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to stop dragging the Ijaw nation into his political skirmishes with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike.
Eradiri, who was the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the last Bayelsa election, described as unfortunate attempts by some political figures to ethnicize internal party struggles within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and portray them as attacks on the Ijaw people.
“Governor Diri should face his issues with Wike squarely and stop giving it the colouration of an Ijaw versus Wike matter. Not every political dispute should be reduced to an ethnic agenda,” he said.
While clarifying that he neither represents Wike’s camp nor seeks his endorsement, Eradiri recounted how his own attempt to gain Wike’s support in the last Bayelsa governorship race was blocked by some persons close to the Minister.
He said: “Let’s be honest. Wike’s support helped Diri win his first term, especially with the cancellation of results from Sylva’s strongholds. Where was the Ijaw pride then when Diri knelt before Wike for support?”
Eradiri challenged those accusing Wike of anti-Ijaw sentiment to replay the Minister’s recent statements and assess them objectively.
“Our people often react emotionally without facts. If Wike has made factual statements, even if bitter, we must have the courage to reflect on them critically, not just jump on solidarity trains,” he noted.
The former IYC leader criticised what he described as selective activism and asked why the same solidarity is not shown when it comes to development issues such as reviving the Bayelsa Airport, improving education, or tackling insecurity in Ijaw land.
“Our capital, Yenagoa, is filled with abandoned projects. Our airport is barely functional. Our youths are roaming the streets jobless, yet people are only quick to rally for political fights. Where is the solidarity for progress?” he asked.
On Rivers State politics, Eradiri accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of incompetence and warned him against drawing Ijaw into his feud with Wike.
“He should tell us how many Ijaw sons and daughters he has empowered since taking office. Political support must go both ways. Wike empowered many Ijaws—are they no longer Ijaw because they support him?”
He advised Fubara to reconcile with Wike, stating that those currently backing him were the same ones who once bowed to Wike behind closed doors.
“The President saved Fubara from impeachment with a state of emergency plan. He should appreciate that instead of allowing himself to be misled.”
Eradiri also took a swipe at the Ijaw National Congress (INC) for what he called its biased handling of the political crisis in Rivers State.
“The INC should remain neutral and stop pandering to the egos of governors. When Wike was welcomed to Abalama by Ijaw chiefs, are those people suddenly not Ijaw? Empowered sons like George Kelly are still Ijaw,” he argued.
He added that many self-proclaimed defenders of the Ijaw nation had failed to develop the region, looted intervention funds, and sabotaged local economic opportunities such as the Atala Marginal Field.
Eradiri concluded: “Let Diri and Fubara fight their political battles within PDP and leave the Ijaw nation out of it. The real enemies of the Ijaw people are not Wike or outsiders—it is those among us who have failed to uplift our land and people.”
